Africa Asia Dairy Genetic Gains (AADGG)
The Africa Asia Dairy Genetics Gains (AADGG) project is leveraging innovative information and communication technology (ICT) and genomic advancements to accurately profile, evaluate, and rank dairy bulls and cows. It aims to promote the use of top-tier bulls and bull dams for breeding future national dairy herds. This initiative assists dairy farmers and relevant national entities in identifying highly productive and resilient dairy seedstock from the existing pool. It encourages their widespread adoption to enhance and continuously refine the national dairy herds through the following strategies:
1. Digital National Dairy Performance Recording: Establishing a digital platform for national dairy performance recording, enabling efficient data management and accessibility.
2. Genetic Evaluation Frameworks: Utilizing digitally gathered data to create robust frameworks for the genetic evaluation and selection of dairy bulls. The genetically superior bulls are promoted for wide use in national artificial insemination (AI) and community-based natural mating programs.
3. Farmer-Centric e-Education and Feedback Systems: Implementing, in collaboration with Green Dreams Technology, e-education and feedback systems that are focused on farmers and key dairy value chain actors. This approach empowers them to enhance dairy productivity and the profitability of related businesses and services.
4. Strategic Partnerships for Sustainability: Forming partnerships with public, private sectors, advanced research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and producers. These collaborations aim to ensure the sustained resourcing and scaling of the AADGG’s data capture, analytics, and feedback system. In addition, it involves packaging the program into a comprehensive regional platform to facilitate broader impact.
By adopting these strategies, the AADGG project is setting a benchmark for the integration of technology in enhancing dairy genetics and overall agricultural productivity, livelihoods of the smallholder dairy farmers as well as mitigating climate change effects.
